?~ Mountain Scenic Area

　　?~ Mountain Scenic Area is situated in Xinning County, Hunan Province, and encompasses six major scenic areas: Tianyi Alley, Chili Peak, Fuyi River, Bajiao Village, Zixia Cave, and Tiansheng Bridge, along with 18 scenic sub-zones. Over 500 significant attractions have been discovered and named here. The area features three major karst caves and one primeval forest, covering a total of 108 square kilometers. It is a classic Danxia landform and a rare environmentally protected natural mountain-water scenic zone. In May 2002, it was designated as a National Key Scenic Area by the State Council, and in October 2001, it was approved as a National Geopark by the Ministry of Land and Resources.

　　In 2000, it was established as a National Rock Climbing Training Base by the General Administration of Sport of China.

　　The name “?~” of ?~ Mountain originates from an ancient legend. It is said that when Emperor Shun traveled southward in ancient times and passed by ?~ Mountain, he was struck by the extraordinary landscape and bestowed upon it the character “?~,” meaning “excellent cluster of mountains.” As a result, the Xinhua Dictionary includes a dedicated entry for the character “?~.”

　　

　　　　?~ Mountain is located in Xinning County in southern Hunan, bordering Guangxi. To the south, it lies near the Guilin Scenic Area, while to the north, it echoes the Zhangjiajie Scenic Area.

　　　　?~ Mountain boasts uniquely distinctive natural landscapes. It features numerous peculiar rocky peaks and deep karst caves. The Fuyi River, an upper tributary of the Zi River, meanders through the area from north to south, presenting picturesque scenery. It combines the beauty of Guilin, the serenity of Qingcheng Mountain, and the grandeur of Mount Tai. The climate of ?~ Mountain is a subtropical humid monsoon climate, with distinct seasons and a pleasant climate, and an average annual temperature of 17°C. The Fuyi River flows year-round with crystal-clear waters. The area is richly vegetated, home to many rare and precious species such as the “panda of plants”—the silver fir and dove tree—as well as first-class nationally protected animals including the South China tiger, clouded leopard, golden pheasant, civet, and giant salamander. The forest coverage exceeds 70%, making the ecological environment exceptionally superior.

　　　　?~ Mountain also has a wealth of cultural and historical attractions. These include a 100,000-year-old macaque skull fossil, a 4,500-year-old Neolithic cultural site, ancient fortress ruins from peasant uprisings throughout history, and ancestral tombs of high-ranking officials from the late Qing Dynasty. The area is home to a mix of Han, Yao, Miao, and Zhuang ethnic groups, showcasing vibrant and diverse ethnic customs. Throughout history, poets and scholars have composed numerous renowned poems and essays here. The famous poet Ai Qing once exclaimed, “Guilin’s scenery is the best under heaven, but ?~ Mountain’s landscape surpasses Guilin.”

　　The Six Wonders of ?~ Mountain

　　　　?~ Mountain is a recently developed tourist destination where humans and nature coexist in remarkable harmony. Covering a total area of 108 square kilometers, it includes five major scenic zones: Bajiao Village, Tianyi Alley, Chili Peak, Zixia Cave, and Fuyi River. The geological structure of ?~ Mountain is unique, featuring a complete ensemble of mountains, water, forests, and caves. It is a classic Danxia peak forest landform, standing out among scenic areas in China. The area showcases a diverse range of Danxia landforms, combining height, steepness, depth, length, and narrowness, as well as grandeur, wonder, danger, serenity, and beauty. Notably, it boasts over ten occurrences of rare landform wonders such as “one-line sky” and natural bridges, which are difficult to form. According to expert research, ?~ Mountain is one of the rare large-scale Danxia landform scenic areas in China and even the world. It is no exaggeration to call ?~ Mountain the “Soul of China’s Danxia,” and its famous landscapes—the “Six Wonders of ?~ Mountain”—are truly world-class wonders:

　　　　The First Wonder is the World’s Number One Alley: Located in the Tianyi Alley scenic area, it stretches 238.8 meters in length, with cliff walls on both sides rising 120–180 meters high. The narrowest point is just 0.33 meters wide, and the widest is 0.8 meters, making it a world-class “one-line sky” spectacle. In 2009, Tianyi Alley in ?~ Mountain was recognized by the China World Records Association as the World’s Number One Alley, setting a world record.

　　　　The Second Wonder is the Whales Playing in the Sea: Located in the Bajiao Village scenic area, when looking down into the valley, the drifting clouds and peculiar peaks appear to reveal their heads and tails from time to time, resembling thousands of whales playing in the sea.

　　　　The Third Wonder is the General Stone: Located in the Fuyi River scenic area, it stands at an elevation of 399.5 meters, with the stone pillar itself being 75 meters tall and 40 meters in circumference. Drifting down the Fuyi River, you can see the General Stone standing against the blue sky, overlooking the river, head held high, clad in starlight and armed with might, exuding an imposing presence.

　　　　The Fourth Wonder is the Camel Peak: Located in the Chili Peak scenic area, the peak is 187.8 meters high and 273 meters long, with two indentations dividing it into the camel’s head, hump, and tail, creating a lifelike and vivid resemblance.

　　　　The Fifth Wonder is the Natural Bridge: The bridge pier is 64 meters long, 14 meters wide, and 20 meters high, with a bridge deck thickness of 5 meters. The entire bridge is arch-shaped, stretching majestically across the sky, and is acclaimed as the No. 1 Bridge in Asia.

　　　　The Sixth Wonder is the Chili Peak: Located in the Chili Peak scenic area, it rises 180 meters high, with a large top and small base, resembling an enormous chili pepper.

　　 ?~ Mountain Honors

　　　　In 2000, it was designated as a National Rock Climbing Training Base by the General Administration of Sport of China.

　　　　In October 2001, it was approved as a National Geopark by the Ministry of Land and Resources.

　　　　In May 2002, ?~ Mountain was listed as a National Key Scenic Area.

　　　　In 2005, during the selection of Hunan’s “New Eight Views of Xiaoxiang,” ?~ Mountain stood out with its stunning beauty, surpassing “Mount Hengshan of Nanyue” to claim second place, only behind “Zhangjiajie in Hunan.”

　　　　On January 16, 2006, the ?~ Mountain Scenic Area Management Office received notice from the Ministry of Construction that ?~ Mountain was officially listed as a National Natural Heritage site.

　　　　In August 2006, ?~ Mountain was shortlisted for “The Most Desirable Place in China.”

　　　　In 2007, during the “China Scenic Area Online Selection” hosted by the Scenic Area Management Office of the Ministry of Construction, ?~ Mountain was ranked among the “Top Ten Most Promising Scenic Areas in China.”

　　　　China National Geography magazine, in its “Best of China Special Edition” (deluxe revised edition), published the final rankings of 114 “Most Beautiful Places in China.” The Danxia landform of the Zi River–Bajiao Village–?~ Mountain area was listed among the “Seven Most Beautiful Danxia Landscapes in China.”

　　　　On April 18, 2009, the Asia-Pacific Tourism Federation, the Tourism Culture Research Center of the Chinese Ethnic Culture Promotion Association, and the Tourism Ecology Professional Committee of the Chinese Ecological Society awarded ?~ Mountain the title of “China’s Best Eco-Cultural Tourism Destination,” the only one in Hunan.

　　　　In 2009, Tianyi Alley in ?~ Mountain was honored by the China World Records Association as the World’s Number One Alley, setting another world record and adding further glory to ?~ Mountain.

　　　　In 2010, ?~ Mountain successfully earned its “4A” rating, becoming the first national 4A-level scenic area in the Shaoyang region.

　　　　At 05:06 on August 2, 2010, during the 34th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Brasília, Brazil, it was announced that the World Heritage Committee had unanimously approved the “China Danxia” nomination, jointly submitted by Hunan’s ?~ Mountain, Guangdong’s Danxia Mountain, Guizhou’s Chishui, Fujian’s Taining, Jiangxi’s Longhu Mountain, and Zhejiang’s Jianglang Mountain, as a World Natural Heritage site. Hunan’s ?~ Mountain officially became a World Natural Heritage site.

　　　　Currently, the ?~ Mountain Scenic Area is striving to be designated as a National 5A-level tourist attraction and to apply for recognition as a UNESCO Global Geopark. It aims to establish ?~ Mountain as a core growth pole for tourism in southwestern Hunan, forming a provincial tourism landscape where “Zhangjiajie shines in the north and ?~ Mountain in the south.”